SHEPSHED Dynamo were left to rue key refereeing decisions they felt gave Retford United a helping hand in this top of the table clash.

Reigning champions Retford were denied promotion last year and were third and two points behind Shepshed with a game in hand at the start of play.

They emphasized their ambitions by re-signing their, and the League’s, leading goalscorer last season Neil Harvey from Macclesfield just hours before the kick-off.

Shepshed recalled their leading goalscorer Shane Benjamin with Scott Rickards dropping down onto the bench.

The game started at a frenetic pace. Dynamo had early chances. Ricky Hanson fizzed a 40 yarder just wide, Benjamin’s shot deflected off United’s Thomas Cowan onto the top of the bar and Matt Millns, up for a corner, glanced a header inches wide.

It wasn’t all Shepshed though. Gary Hateley did exceptionally well to save a free kick from the edge of the penalty area from Chris Bettney.

On 34 minutes Shepshed took the lead. Retford gave away a needless free kick some 30 yards out. Rob Norris’s cross was seized upon by Benjamin who slid the ball past keeper Ross Turner.

The visitors hit back and Harvey and Michael Godber both missed good chances in quick succession. Shepshed then lost the services of Ben Saunders up front, manager Wilson replacing him with Rickards.

Within seconds of the change Retford equalized. A cross from the left flank by Harvey found Godber at the far post who duly headed home.

If Shepshed had had the better of the first half Retford certainly had the better of the second. The defining moment of the game came in the 61st minute when the visitors took the lead with a controversial goal. With Shepshed in possession in the middle of the pitch a pass was handled by a United player giving them possession. The expected whistle never came and Retford swept down the pitch with a three man move that ended with Godber firing home.

Shepshed were now chasing the game desperately seeking an equalizer. Alarming gaps were being left at the back as they pressed forward. But this was an experienced outfit they were playing and with 10 minutes left the inevitable happened as Retford grabbed a third.

Again controversy raged as Shepshed defenders in unison claimed hand ball before the ball was played to the edge of the area where Ryan Ford cleverly threaded a shot between defenders and under the body of the diving Hateley.